The
2004 Chevrolet Corvette remains one of America's top dream cars. No sports car can match its performance for the money, and it's easy to live with on a daily basis.
This is the final model year for the current-generation 150-plus-mph Corvette. It celebrated its 50th anniversary with the 2003 model, so Chevrolet has made few changes to the 2004 model.
There are trim packages commemorating successful racing Corvettes of recent years. And the top-line Z06 hardtop has revised shock absorbers and a carbon fiber hood.
The first Corvette arrived in late 1953 as a limited-production version of a gorgeous General Motors auto show concept car. But it had marginal weather protection and cost $3,513, when you could get a sporty, comfortable Cadillac coupe for about the same amount.
The 'Vette didn't really start becoming widely popular until 1957, when it cost nearly the same as the 1953 model but was far more powerful and sophisticated.
The Corvette never has been inexpensive, but the sensational, hot selling 1963-67 Sting Ray models were affordable at about $4,200 to nearly anyone with a job that paid reasonably well.
Prices were acceptably low for a fast, racy, low-volume sports car until they began climbing in the late 1970s. By 1980, a Corvette coupe cost $13,965, up from only $9,645 in 1978.
The lowest-priced 2004 Corvette is the $43,735 hatchback model I tested. There's also the $50,735 convertible with a manually operated top and the super-high-performance $51,585 Z06 coupe.
Those prices leave many lovers of large, bold, brawny sports cars such as the 'Vette in the cold. If you want an "affordable'' fast sports car, you must go to autos such as the $26,370-$34,180 Nissan 350Z, which is 10 inches shorter than the Corvette and has a 214-cubic-inch V-6 with 287 horsepower.
The Corvette has a 346-cubic-inch V-8, which delivers sizzling acceleration. The lighter Z06 version produces 405 horsepower, compared with 350 horsepower for the other models. All are well equipped with comfort and convenience items -- and anti-skid and traction control systems to keep things safe on slippery roads.
There are a fair number of options. One key extra is the advanced, adjustable $1,695 Magnetic Selective Ride Control, which is optional for the hatchback and convertible and enhances ride and handling. It's not offered for the Z06, which has a special suspension
My test car had the $395 Performance Handling package. It contained such items as stiffer springs and stabilizer bars, but also can't be had with the Magnetic Selective Ride Control.
The Corvette has a firm-but-supple ride with any suspension setup, and that allows comfortable in-town use or long-distance cruising. The new-generation 1984 Corvette had a very rough ride, but Chevy solved that problem by the time I drove a 1987 'Vette from Chicago to Los Angeles on old Route 66 that year.
Steering is linear and accurate. It's also a tad heavy, thanks partly to the car's huge tires. They contribute to superb handling, and the anti-lock brakes are powerful. Despite tremendous performance, the Corvette is docile during lazy driving.
My test model had the $3,700 Commemorative Edition package, which had special new Le Mans Blue paint with a Shale interior and unique badges recognizing the car's racing successes.
The package includes items from the $1,200 Preferred Equipment option, including a tilt-telescoping steering wheel, "memory'' settings for such things as driver seat position and a head-up instrument display that projects such items as vehicle speed on the windshield. (It can be turned off if a driver finds it distracting.)
My test car also had the $915 six-speed manual transmission, which is standard for the Z06. It calls for some muscle to change gears, and the shift lever gets a bit notchy during fast shifting. It works with a long-throw, fairly light clutch.
The hatchback and convertible have a standard four-speed automatic transmission, which works fine with the powerful V-8. As with the Z06 model, the manual gearbox is for car buffs who like to shift gears; it really isn't needed for neck-snapping acceleration.
City fuel economy is low; it's estimated at 18-19 mpg, but I only got 13-14 mpg because this is a big, fairly heavy car. Highway fuel economy at 65-70 mph was much better -- in the mid-20s with the engine loafing in sixth gear at 1,400 rpm. Premium fuel is called for.
The Corvette's long, heavy doors are a nuisance in tight parking spots, and getting in and out calls for extra effort. Door sills aren't wide, but the "drop-in/climb-out'' method is best to enter and leave the low-slung car.
The interior has decent room for two tall adults in supportive seats, along with easily read gauges and large, soft-touch controls. However, some rival foreign cars with approximately the same prices have interior materials with better quality.
The hatchback's interior is fairly quiet, while interiors of the convertible and Z06 are noisier. Rear visibility isn't very good in any version, so the big outside mirrors must be used often in heavy traffic when changing lanes and such.
The hatchback has a large cargo area, but it has a high opening and there's no partition between the cargo hold and cabin.
The next-generation Corvette will be improved but won't have a radically new look. As always, it will be one of this country's top dream cars.
2004 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
Prices:
$43,735-$51,585
Likes:
Fast. Superb steering, handling and braking. Comfortable.
Dislikes:
Low city fuel economy. Taxing entry and exit. Long-throw clutch.